Baidu's "Robotaxi": Burning Money Like Water, Is the Future of Autonomous Driving Dawn or Bubble?

Tech 2024-08-16 01:26:00 28 Source: Network

Baidu's "Robotaxi": Burning Money Like Water, Is the Future of Autonomous Driving Dawn or Bubble?While "Robotaxi" boasts technological prowess, its operational costs are incredibly high. A self-driving car, costing 480,000 yuan, incurs a daily depreciation cost of 263 yuan

Baidu's "Robotaxi": Burning Money Like Water, Is the Future of Autonomous Driving Dawn or Bubble?

Baidu

"Robotaxi," Baidu's autonomous taxi service, is making waves on the streets of Wuhan, but its operational costs are staggering. Each vehicle incurs a daily loss of over 400 yuan, prompting questions about the business model of autonomous driving and concerns about its future prospects.

Baidu

I. The "Money Pit" of Autonomous Driving

Baidu

While "Robotaxi" boasts technological prowess, its operational costs are incredibly high. A self-driving car, costing 480,000 yuan, incurs a daily depreciation cost of 263 yuan. In addition, salaries for over 300 safety personnel, insurance, and vehicle maintenance costs bring the total daily expense to 464 yuan. However, these self-driving vehicles can only complete a maximum of 12 trips a day, generating a meager income of 60 yuan, which is far from covering the costs.

Baidu

II. The Awkward Presence of Safety Personnel

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The initial goal of autonomous driving was to replace human drivers with machines. However, the reality is that each vehicle still requires a safety driver to handle emergencies. This is essentially a "patch" for the immaturity of the technology. Safety personnel must constantly monitor road conditions and be prepared to take over the vehicle, leading to significant mental pressure. The employment of numerous safety personnel also results in a substantial financial burden and raises concerns about future job security.

Baidu

III. The "Blame Game" of Accident Liability

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Autonomous vehicles have encountered numerous accidents on the road, including collisions with vehicles and pedestrians, even resulting in casualties. Assigning liability for these accidents has become a challenge, as technology companies, automotive manufacturers, operators, and safety personnel may all be held accountable. The legal field lacks a unified standard for determining liability, leading to attempts by all parties to shift blame, making the promotion of autonomous driving even more difficult.

IV. The Future of Autonomous Driving: Dawn or Bubble?

Autonomous driving is an inevitable trend in technological advancement, with the potential to free human hands and increase efficiency. However, reality is harsh, and technological maturity and market acceptance take time. Despite the significant losses currently faced by "Robotaxi," this doesn't necessarily mean the future of autonomous driving is bleak. Throughout history, countless great inventions have undergone countless failures and setbacks before eventually achieving success.

However, we can't be blindly optimistic. For autonomous driving to truly become a reality, challenges related to technology, law, and the market must be addressed. Technological immaturity, a lack of legal regulations, and insufficient public acceptance could all hinder its development.

Conclusion

The money-burning marathon of "Robotaxi" continues, and the future of autonomous driving is full of challenges. We need to give it time to develop and improve. Just like every great technological advancement throughout history, autonomous driving must go through trials, errors, and failures before it can ultimately race towards its own prosperous path.

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